Display sign indicia



July 21, 1959 SPANGLER 2,895,245

DISPLAY SIGN INDICIA iled April 25. 1955 lzwerd or' Bela-lard Sperry [er United States Pate MICE? PM... .rul yiilfi DISPLAY SIGN mnrc m 7 Bernard Spangler, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,381

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-130) The present invention relates generally to' display signs and it relates more particularly to individual display-sign letters, numbers or other indicia.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction for display-sign letters, numbers and other indicia, as well as a new and useful method of forming the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide novel display sign indicia which canbe easily and inexpensively manufactured, with a of hand operations and which are rugged, durable and capable of giving long service when used outdoors, even under the most adverse weather conditions. V v

Otherobjects and advantages of the present invention are-apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. g

' For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is presently preferred and which has been found in practice to give satisfactory results; it being understood, however, that the present" invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities illustrated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure l is a perspective view of a display-sign letter forming one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the maincomponents of the embodiment of Fig.1.;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Fig.1. e

"Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary-cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1-4 I have shown a self-standing display sign letter, namely the letter A forming one embodiment of the present invention. 7

As best shown in Fig, 2, this embodiment is made-up of the following main parts; a base or back 10 which is die-cast or otherwise suitably integrally formed of aluminum alloy or other suitable light weight metal or the like; a reflector-member 12 of polished sheet-metal or the like adapted to fit within the back 10 in a manner to be hereinbelow described and carrying the lighting elements (such as fluorescent tubing 'bent intoproper configuration); a front member or face 14 molded or otherwise integrally formed of light-transmitting (i.e. translucent or transparent) and preferably colored synthetic resin or the like, of a configuration matching that of the back 10; and lengths "of molding strip 16 or generally F-shaped cross-sectional configuration, adapted to effect a detachable water-tight connection between the peripheral edges of the back 10 and the corresponding edges of the front or face 14.

As mentioned above, the back 10 is integrally formed of aluminum alloy or other appropriate metal by diecasting or other similar operation and includes a generally flat vertical back wall 18 having a forwardlydirected continuous peripheral flange 20. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the back 10 is shaped into the configuration of the letter A so that the continuous peripheral flange 20 includes a relatively small horizontal top portion 22, downwardly-diverging side portions 24, inwardly extending horizontal bottom-portions or feet 26, relativelyshort upwardly converging inner portions 28 which are connected, at their upper ends, by an intermediate horizontal portion 30.

To complete the configuration of the letter A the back 10 is provided with an inner triangular flange 32 consisting of a base portion 34 and upwardly converging side portions 36. V

Along the inside surfaces of the flanges 20 and 32, there are provided a plurality of spaced integrally formed lugs 38 which are adapted to receive self-tapping screws whereby the reflector 12 is mounted on the back 10 in the manner to be hereinbelow described.

The flanges 20 and 32 are also provided with a plurality of spaced holes 40 adjacent the forward free edges thereof; the holes being adapted to receive the fastening screws whereby the molding strip 16 can be secured to the flanges so as to lock the face 18 to the back 10 as will be hereinafter described. I

The back wall 18 is provided with a pair of access openings 42 which permit servicing and/or replacement of transformer units 44 mounted within the back 10; removable water-tight cover plates 46 being provided for said openings 42.

Coming now to the reflector member 12, this element, as best shown in Fig. 2, is preferably integrally formed from relatively thin flat polished sheet metal stamped into the configuration of the letter A? and of such size as to fit more or less snugly within the flanges of the back 10, as indicated in Fig. 4. A series of spaced peripheral openings 48 are'provided in the reflector member 12; the openings 48 coinciding with the lugs-38. Selftapping screws 50 are constructed and arranged to be inserted through the openings 48 and to make detachable engagement with the lugs 38, as best indicated in Fig. 4.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, appropriately bent fluorescent tubing 52 is mounted upon the polished front face of the sheet metal reflector 12 by means of spaced mounting posts 54. The ends of the tubing 52 are com nected to the transformer units 44 through suitable openings in the reflector 12, as indicated'in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. l, the transformer units are preferably secured to the inside of the side flange portions 24 .of the back 10 by means of screws 56.

Instead of employing fluorescent tubing, I may use any other conventional source of illumination, as for example neon-filled tubing orincandescent tubing, individual spaced light bulbs, etc.

The bottom flange portions or feet 26 of the back 10 are preferably provided with a plurality of holes 58 whereby the assembled letter can be firmly mounted, in upright position, upon any appropriate horizontal surface S shown in Fig. l.

The front member or face 14 is integrally formed of molded synthetic resin or the like which is light transmitting (i.e. translucent or transparent) and, preferably, is also colored. With a colored translucent plastic face 14, the light produced by the fluorescent tubing (or other ree ed nahs.6l,.6.4,.fi6.68.and 7 ,.correshO d e p e tively, to the peripheral flange portions 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 of the back 10. The face 14 also has a rearwardly d egt dmhiah la e 72 rresp nd g the -.t. .u ue .ifien efl e -thepae .10; h r a gu a we 'l a hath h eut epeniu e h .A-

A. he outward yec annular fl n e :teuds are .d. the walls-.-62.. -6 eu i 0 e udes est mama 'F .e d. 4, te m t in l wit t outer peripheral flange portionsof theback '10.

e ut wetdlye ir ete p riph flange 76 is formed .elmeth t 'en'shleI ee e w n te m e il e he-tr an ar .fl ns 13. t bac As mentioned above, the face;,1 4 isconneeted-to-the ha k-.19 hy ensths fhnqh hseh p. wh h e he inre t a tiqh eenfihre q -Ihu e how i H s We le n 1 (which i i ee a y te me e rt ehke) lude ve tiee a m w t f eh etmet parallel outer andjnner flanges 80; and 8 2 formed at one end o the-ma n. T rm The pa a e fla e 80 e 82 arespaced apart soas snugly to receive the peripheral flange 7 4 (or 76) of the face 14 therebetween. Angle irons-54am used to connect the ends of theindividu al lengthsof; molding strip 16 at the corners of the letter; the ends of the flanges 80 and82 being cut. diagonally to provide snugly-flttingmiter corners.

ffhemein e ee e m 7 of t me i r p 21 is er e and r n ed to fi wt o tsid e t .peripheral flange m (orthetriangularflange 32) of the back 10, in a manner best shown in Fig. 4. The free esi ese the 1131 3 .3 a a n t m d e stripflange 82-with aninterventing gasket strip 86 proyid' g;a water-tightseal therebetween.

:Asshown inF-ig. 2, the main arm 78 ofthe F-shaped molding strip, 16 provided with a plurality of holes corr dihs t the holes 40 in the flange -20 (or 32 of the back,10 Self-tappingscrews 9 0 are adapted to ;be--;in ,s r e th elr sne helee e ee ed e ah y conne the face .14 to the back 10 s o as to complete the assembly .e th :s isn e t e Whilel have described above a so-called free-standing letter (i.e. one which stands by itself resting upon and ie te eqt eh under n generally h e upper i surface), thepresent invention canalsobe embodied in letters andother sign-indiciaintended to be mounted in $9911 hne aeih ee e eted h e m m e er y p lse ew e t lik pas n through pp opri h s, (n t m d iht e wa 8 o thehae member 10, in .a mannerconventional in the art. This .meuuhhs -e nu e o letters .e th l k n e ngl fin is used especially withsnraller-size letters.

.With such;s maller -size letters it may be "desirable, in sometimes, to eliminate the reflector member 12 and to mount;the tubing or other source of ilhunination bysecuring the mounting posts 54 directly to the back wall -18 of the back-, 10,;in,an obvious manner. Also, in the caseof smaller size letters or the like, it may bemore practicallto mount the transformers 44 inside the ffin or at some other place remote from the letters, insteadof inside the back 10 as described above.

The ,use ofanintegral die-cast metal back and a-molded synthetic resin face, greatly 1 cuts down on the cost and time of vff'abrication,,as compared to conventional constructionsheretofore employed and permits greater uniformity and-. u e hau e hilityo p T use o in a lie oaston moldedgcu structions substantially increases the strength of the final letter or other advertising indicia 4 .ahdeh yre areate .weet e ei s y protecting the light source from deterioration or damage).

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and, therefore, the foregoing embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims as indicating the scope of invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent the following:

1. A display-signletter or the like comprising an integral back member of opaque lightweight metal or the like havingabackwail anda relatively wide continuous forwardly directed peripheral flange; a separate metallic reflector member corresponding in shape to the back member and fitting snugly therewithin, means detachably securing the reflector member to the back member; a source of illumination mounted onthe reflector member; a onepiece front ,member of light-transmitting synthetic resin onthelikeand corresponding in'shape to the back member, said front member havinga generally flat face and integrally -;formed rearwardly directed peripheral walls pflessenwidth-than the back member flange and having aninteggal outwardly directed peripheral flange formed on the rearwlardly directed walls with its free edgesterminatingadjacent thefree edges ofthe peripheral flange of the back-membenand separate means detachably connecting the-peripheralwalls of the front member to the free edges -ofl the peripheral flange of the backmember so as to form a watertight seal therebetween comprising lengths;of;;integral-molding strip of relatively small F- helle ems zse ieu nfisu e e p l arms of the F receivingtheputwardly directed peripheral flange -of -the front. ;nre nber while the base of the F overlies ;the;periph flangeof the back member for a short distance andnsremovably secured thereto; the inner free edsee ztheflen ee th ee member and the peripheral edgeof the gfac epf thereflector abut the inner of the parallel a rnsof the-F-witha sealing gasket disposed therebetween.

2. ;A c onstr 1ction according-to claim 1 wherein the peripheralflange-ofthe back member is provided with integrallyfiormedlngs on its inner surface, said lugs underlying only;asmall;portion of the edges of the reflector nember andewherein screws or thelike extend through the reflector mernberand make engagement with the lugs, th xlh she he rece s d e the-p flange about the thickness of the reflector member to enable the face .9 ,ll?. h;l fltfi "r@ l t h flus w the peripheral flange.

ReferencesCited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 14, 679 -Wiley July 1, 1919 1,820,913 Kelly et al., Sept. 1, 1931 2,269,675 Livingston et al. Jan. 13, 1942 2,298,940 gHayes Oct. 13, 1942 2,507,875 WiIliams May 16, 1950 2,562,553 Howenstine July 31, 1951 2,607,144 -Harris Aug. 19, 1952 2,626,473 Howenstine Jan. 27, 1953 '-'2,7'78,1$4 "Willey Jan. 22, 1957 -.FQ1EIGN PATENTS 118.571 :iSwitzerland May 16, 1927 293,595 .-G reat:Britain July 12, 1928 585,004 France Dec. 1,1924 =7.00515 :France Dec. 23, 1930 

